Another great Bruno book from Martin Walker. Bruno drives to a remote overlook to enjoy the view and finds another car parked there with someone slumped over the steering wheel. The woman has been dead for several hours. There is an empty box of zolpidem on the floor and three sealed addressed envelopes on the passenger seat. The first is the Rebecca Weil, the second to Laura Segret and the third to her husband Dominic. Bruno finds out that the woman is Monique and she has just lost a baby and her doctor is Fabiola. She has been a concierge taking care of chateaus and renting them out when owners aren't there. The first letter was going to her lawyer who told Bruno that Monique wanted her company to go to the women who worked with her and not to her husband Dominic.

Meanwhile, Bruno starts hearing radio announcers denigrating him and claiming he was getting money he shouldn't have. Bruno discovers some police who aren't behaving as they should. When Bruno meets Laura, the woman to get the second letter from Monique, they immediately like each other, and she has a bassett hound. It turns out that the dogs also become friends. Bruno finds out that Monique's husband is not happy about not inheriting Monique's business even though he had signed a prenup saying he wouldn't get any of it. There are a lot of things happening in this book, but as in the past, when all is done the bad guys are punished and Bruno has won.

I thank Netgalley and Knopf for giving me an ARC so that I could read the book before publication. I can't wait for the next book!

Another entertaining and reliable title in this series. Not a criticism. I enjoyed the food and landscape descriptions along with the story itself about one’s attempt to fix a problem. An sometimes make it worse. Add another story line about a dead woman’s will, a new love interest for Bruno, and you have a pleasant book to enjoy.

An Enemy in the Village is Book 18 in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. Readers can count on Martin Walker to create a well-written novel in this series. As has been true of every Chief Bruno novel, and I have read all of them, there is food, dogs, and women. This novel begins with a tragic suicide, which leads to a new woman for Bruno and the possibility of a deeper romance. Given that there are obstacles to a lasting relationship, readers will likely find Bruno remains an unmarried but generous protagonist. Unlike in the previous Bruno novels, there is no investigation to occupy Bruno.

There are many contemporary issues noted in An Enemy in the Village, including climate change and the effect on grapes and wine production. The impending invasion of Ukraine is also noted. Politics turn up as well, with attacks on Bruno's integrity and ethics. The Chief Bruno novels are not fast-paced. These are books for a lazy afternoon of reading with a glass of wine nearby. Bruno does not really grow or change in any of these novels, which is my one disappointment. Bruno spends a lot of time longing for a wife and children, but repeatedly looks for new women, instead of noticing the single mother nearby, who has always been in love with him. Let's face it. Bruno looks new challenges and ignores what is nearby.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review, which I have provided. I do recommend An Enemy in the Village. It is always a treat to meet up with Chief Bruno again.

4 stars

A new addition to certain series is always a cause for celebration. Those series whose characters feel like old friends. Among those series, for me, is the Bruno, Chief of Police series set in the Perigord area of southwest France.
An Enemy in the Village is the 18th book. It begins when Bruno finds a successful businesswoman dead in her car, an apparent suicide. A subplot involves a young, politically connected, gendarme accused of sexually assaulting women. But then, things take an odd turn when a campaign starts to single out Bruno for different kinds of accusations. This is a different story, in that there is no real investigation. Those looking for g for that might find themselves disappointed as the crimes, such as they are, definitely take a backseat in this story.
One thing I’ve been hoping for over the last ten or so books is for Bruno to find a love interest. Someone looking for the same sort of permanent relationship that could lead to marriage and kids. Something his last two paramours were not interested in. So, it was wonderful to have Bruno meet Laura, one of the dead woman’s business partners. And she was the pet parent of a lovely female Basset Hound to boot! I’ll be curious to see how things develop.
Walker finds numerous chances to explain Bruno’s philosophy of life, whether it be politics, the enjoyment of the outdoors, good food and wine. He also manages to sneak in bits of the area’s history which I appreciate.
This series is never fast paced. It’s definitely focused on character development. This book was also heartwarming, as Bruno’s friendships were at the heart of the story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.